Study the Spatioal-temporal Relations between Suspended Sediment Load and Precipitation (Case Study: Qarahsu Watershed)

This study seeks to identify and determine the spatial-temporal variations of sediment yield in Qarahsu watershed situated in Ardabil province. To do so, the relations between sediment yield and precipitation were examined in term of temporal-spatial variations in order to provide the estimate model of sediment load in the subwatersheds. Data gathered from six water and rain gauges of the same name over a 22-years period was used. The method followed regression analysis between precipitation and sediment yield by SPSS software and analysis of temporal variations of precipitation and sediment yield by Excel software. Analysis of temporal relations between sediment load and precipitation indicated a higher correlation in intra-annual than in inter-annual scale. In terms of intra-annual variations, except for Hir water gauge, that underwent an increasing trend, other stations had decreasing trends in sediment load. Nonetheless, the increasing trend in annual precipitation of 4 rain gauges was considerable. Results of regression analysis, on one hand, indicated weak correlation between precipitation and sediment load in intra-annual scale, but on the other hand, indicated high correlation in inter-annual scale. Meanwhile, the Fournier index, as seasonal precipitation index, can explain 65% variance of specific sediment yield in the studied watershed. Hence, the index, as indicator of precipitation erosive power, can be effectively used to estimate specific sediment yield in the watershed.